Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1921

Passenger lists for 1921 represent the souvenir list provided to the passengers of each cabin class (and other classes). Many of these souvenir passenger lists have disappeared over the years. Our collection primarily covers North American and European ports and ports in Australia and South Africa.

Our collection contains samples of passenger lists produced and printed by the steamship lines. These lists are often used to illustrate family history books for immigrants from this period.

Coveted by collectors and genealogists, souvenir passenger lists often offered beautiful graphical covers and information not found in official manifests because they focused on the journey rather than the destination.

Other 1921 Passenger Lists Available at the GG Archives

• Italian Steamship Lines, Pesaro, 1921-07-03, Genoa to New York via Naples, Commanded by Captain Bertolini, Knight Officer G. B.
• R.M.S.P. Orbita, 1921-11-04, Hamburg to New York via Cherbourg and Southampton, Commanded by Captain J. E. P. Matthews

Passenger Lists By Year Continued

«
• 1920
• 1921
• 1922
»

Please help us make our passenger list collection more complete. We would appreciate a digital copy if you have an 1921 souvenir passenger list. Please email us at history@ggarchives.com.

Recap and Summary of the Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1921

The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1921 capture a pivotal year in transatlantic and ocean liner travel, marked by the implementation of the U.S. Emergency Quota Act of 1921. This law dramatically restricted immigration, particularly from Southern and Eastern Europe, changing the composition of passenger lists and reducing the overall number of immigrants arriving at Ellis Island.

The steamship industry was adjusting to this new reality, with many lines shifting focus to tourism, business travel, and middle-class migration rather than large-scale immigrant transport. Additionally, ships were being modernized and luxury services expanded, as competition among lines like Cunard, White Star, and Holland-America intensified.

 

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Notable Passenger Ships from 1921

1. TSS Rotterdam (Holland-America Line) – Multiple Voyages in 1921

• Departures:
  • 12 February – Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Plymouth
  • 8 June – Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Plymouth
  • 12 July – Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Plymouth
  • 17 August – Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Plymouth
• Commander: Commodore J. Baron
• Significance:
  • The Rotterdam was one of Holland-America Line’s most important ships, reflecting Dutch migration patterns to the U.S.
  • The high frequency of voyages suggests continued demand for travel, despite new immigration restrictions.

 

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2. RMS Mauretania (Cunard Line) – 30 April 1921

• Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
• Class of Passengers: Cabin
• Commander: Captain Sir Arthur H. Rostron, C.B.E., R.D., R.N.R. (Notable for being the captain of RMS Carpathia, which rescued Titanic survivors in 1912.)
• Significance:
  • The Mauretania was one of the fastest and most luxurious ocean liners of its time, catering to wealthy travelers and business passengers.
  • The increased restrictions on immigrants meant more focus on middle-class and elite travel.

 

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3. SS La Savoie (CGT French Line) – 7 May 1921

• Route: Le Havre to New York
• Class of Passengers: Cabin
• Commander: Captain H. Boisson
• Significance:
  • French transatlantic travel remained strong, despite immigration restrictions.
  • The CGT French Line promoted its routes as luxury experiences, shifting away from mass migration.

 

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4. RMS Aquitania (Cunard Line) – 25 June 1921

• Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
• Class of Passengers: Cabin
• Commander: Captain Sir James Charles
• Significance:
  • Known as the "Ship Beautiful," the Aquitania was a major competitor of White Star’s Olympic and aimed at wealthier passengers.
  • As the U.S. reduced immigrant numbers, transatlantic liners focused more on upper-class and leisure travelers.

 

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5. SS Hellig Olav (Scandinavian America Line) – 12 August & 6 November 1921

• Route: Copenhagen to New York
• Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
• Commander: Captain L. F. Peronard
• Significance:
  • The Nordic countries were less affected by U.S. immigration quotas, making routes like this still viable for Scandinavian migrants.
  • The rise of "Cabin Class" reflected changes in migration patterns, as wealthier passengers took over spaces once used for third-class immigrants.

 

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6. RMS Scythia (Cunard Line) – 20 August 1921

• Route: Liverpool to New York via Queenstown (Cobh)
• Class of Passengers: Saloon and Second Class
• Commander: Captain W. Prothero
• Significance:
  • The Scythia was part of Cunard’s new generation of passenger liners, adapting to lower immigration numbers and an increased focus on tourism.
  • Liverpool remained one of the key departure points for transatlantic travel.

 

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7. SS Mongolia (American Line) – 12 November 1921

• Route: Hamburg to New York
• Class of Passengers: Cabin
• Commander: Captain H. Hartley, CMDR., USNRF
• Significance:
  • Many German liners had been seized after WWI, and the Mongolia’s service from Hamburg was a reflection of Germany’s rebuilding maritime industry.
  • Hamburg remained a major departure point for U.S.-bound travelers, despite the restrictive quotas.

 

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Key Historical Events That Affected Ocean Travel in 1921

1. The Emergency Quota Act of 1921

• This landmark U.S. immigration law placed numerical limits on immigrants from Europe, heavily restricting Southern and Eastern Europeans while favoring Western and Northern Europeans.
• The law sharply reduced the number of immigrants arriving at Ellis Island, forcing steamship companies to rethink their business models.

 

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2. The Decline of Mass Immigration and the Shift to Luxury Travel

• Prior to 1921, most third-class passengers were immigrants seeking new lives in America.
• With new restrictions, ships focused more on "Cabin Class" and luxury travel, catering to businesspeople, tourists, and wealthier migrants.

 

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3. The Post-War Economic Recovery and Shipping Industry Adjustments

• The global economy was still recovering from World War I, affecting both ticket sales and operations for steamship companies.
• Many ships were either repurposed for non-immigrant passengers or retired due to reduced demand.

 

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4. The Increasing Popularity of Canada as an Alternative Destination

• With the U.S. restricting immigration, many people chose to settle in Canada instead, leading to high traffic on ships traveling to Québec and Montréal.
• Ships like SS Metagama, SS Cassandra, and SS Victorian served Canadian routes, highlighting Canada’s growing role in transatlantic migration.

 

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Conclusion – 1921: A Transformative Year in Transatlantic Travel

• 1921 was a turning point for Ellis Island passenger traffic, as U.S. immigration policies became more restrictive.
• Many ocean liners began shifting away from carrying third-class immigrants and instead focused on business travelers, leisure tourists, and middle-class passengers.
• Luxury ships like the RMS Mauretania, RMS Aquitania, and SS Rotterdam saw continued service, catering to an elite clientele.
• Canadian ports, especially Québec and Montréal, gained importance as alternative destinations for migrants.
• The ocean liner industry was forced to adapt to a changing world, setting the stage for the further decline of mass migration by sea.

By the end of 1921, the golden era of large-scale transatlantic immigration was over, and steamship companies had to reinvent themselves for a new era of travel.